CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) of the Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team recorded her first double-double of the season collecting 14 points and 12 rebounds in tonight's season opener against Johnson C. Smith University. The Golden Bulls walked away with the 62-54 win.
The Royals open up their 2010-2011 campaign at 0-1 while Johnson C. Smith improves to 2-0 on the season.
Dyonna Battle (Rocky Mount, N.C., Rocky Mount) sunk a three with 19:09 on the clock assisted by Jessica Lewis (Hampton, Va., Bethel) to start a 5-0 run for Queens at the beginning of the game. The assist was the first of six for Lewis in the contest. A lay-up by Jazmine Edmonds (Manassas, Va., CD Hylton) soon followed. Brittane Neely of the Golden Bulls netted a lay-up putting the Golden Bulls on the clock at 17:40, and making the score 5-2.
Queens held on to the lead throughout a low scoring first half until LaQwesha Gamble put Johnson C. Smith up by two, 19-17, with 5:12 on the clock. Battle put the Royals at 17 at 6:47 where they remained as the Golden Bulls went on a 12-0 run to end the half.
Gamble paced the Golden Bulls in the first half with eight of their 16 points in the paint. Both teams struggled offensively as Queens shot 27.6% from the floor while Johnson C. Smith shot 34.5%.
Lewis opened the second half with a three pointer from deep getting Queens back in to an offensive groove. The Royals cut the Golden Bulls' lead to five on a jumper by Hudley at 15:35, 35-30. Johnson C. Smith responded turning on the defensive pressure holding Queens at 30 while scoring five straight points and increasing their lead to 14.
Queens continued to fight as Hudley brought the Royals to within six scoring three buckets in a row forcing a time out by Johnson C. Smith's head coach, Vanessa Taylor at the 10:09 mark. The Golden Bulls increased their lead to as much as 12 out of the time out before Queens found another run sparked by Battle's second three-pointer of the game.
The Royals closed the gap to four when Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C., Greene Central) capitalized on two free-throws at 5:49, but a turn-around jumper at the free-throw line by Terrica Jones put the Golden Bulls right back up by six.
The two teams traded baskets for a few possessions until Hudley brought the Royals to within four again as Lewis found her slicing through the paint at 2:49.
Hudley's jumper was the last of the game for the Royals as the game became a battle with the clock.
The Royals were outrebounded 51-43 in tonight's game. Both teams turned the ball over 19 times.
Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) scored nine points and snatched eight rebounds for the Royals behind Hudley's double-double. Battle ended the game with eight points, and Lewis recorded six points to go with her game high six assists.
Gamble led the Golden Bulls with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Terran Quattlebaum and Shavonda Price each scored 11 points while Neely and Jones chipped in nine points apiece.
The Royals will travel to Tigerville,S.C., to face North Greenville this Saturday for a game slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.
